Circuit making and breaking device.



L. T. RHOADES.

CIRCUIT MAKING AND BREAKING DEVICE.

APPLiCATlON FILED OCT. 23. 1915.

1,1 89,870. Patented July 4, 1916.

Z SHEETS-SHEET I.

Z l 33 50 25 7:3 1 7' Ia o n llmlw 1 1 9 l a 6 '1 gjvvmwm WWW Lea/5 273%041066,

CLQW. W

L. T. RHOADES.

CIRCUIT MAKING AND BREAKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION men ocr.2a.i915.

1,189,870. Patented July 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I 10 6 31 12 7 13 @l I 1? 30 9 L F a:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS T. RHOADES, or MONT CLARE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO NEW YORK COIL COMPANY, me, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIRCUIT MAKING AND BREAKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4., 1916.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, Lnwis T. Ruoixons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mont Clare, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit Making and Breaking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in circuit making and breaking devices, and more particularly to such devices of the mechanically operated type, an object of the invention being to provide a circuit making and breaking device which is especially adapted for use in connection with ignition devices for internal combustion engines con taining any number of cylinders such as found in common practice.

A further object is to provide a device of the character stated which will insure the making of a single spark for each explosion and consume at each spark the same amount of current from the battery or other source entirely independent of the speed of the engine upon which the device is operated.

A further object is to provide means whereby the contacts remain apart at all. times with the exception of the brief interval of time that the spark is being produced, resulting in a great saving of battery energy and eliminating unnecessary burning or areing of the contact points which is due to the uniformity of the current consumed.

A further object is to provide a device of the character stated which comprises but very few parts, which can be cheaply manufactured and placed on the market at a very low price.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view showing the normal positions of the parts. Fig. 2 is a View in elevation partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan View showing the contacts together and the operating member in its two extreme positions, one position being shown in full lines, and the other in dotted lines. Fig. 4.- is a view in longitudinal section partly in elevation, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in transverse section 011 the line 55 of Fig. 4.

1 represents a time shaft which for convenienoe of description we will assume to be in a vertical position, and which is made with a reduced upper end 2, and is mounted in a sleeve 3 having a platform 1 at its upper end. A key 5 Secured to platform 1 projects into an annular groove 6 in time shaft 1, and holds the time shaft and sleeve against independent longitudinal. movement. On the reduced upper end 2 of time shaft 1, a cam member 7 has rotary mounting, and a coiled spring 8 located above the cam member exerts a downward pressure on the cam member normally holding the same against a washer 9 bearing against the enlarged lower portion of the time shaft. The upper end of the spring 8 bears against a collar 10 secured to the upper end of the time shaft by a screw 11, and the lower end of the spring bears against a washer .12 interposed between the same and the rotary cam member 7 The rotary cam member 7 is provided with a circular series of cams 13, and a pin 14 compels the cam member 7 to turn with the time shaft when the latter is moved in one direc tion. This pin 1 1 is located in a recess 15 in the enlarged portion oftime shaft 1, and is pressed upwardly by a coiled spring 16 located in the bottom of the recess below the pin. The upper end of the pin has an annu lar shoulder 17 bearingagainst washer 9 to limit the upward movement of the pin, while the extreme upper end of the pin is rounded as shown at 18, so that it can be easily moved downward by cam faces 19 at the lower edges of the cams 13. These cam faces 19 are so arranged that when the time shaft is turned in a reverse direction to normal, they will force the pin 1 L downwardly for a purpose which will more fully hereinafter appear.

20v represents a. stationary contact supported in a post 21 on platform 4., and adapted to be engaged by a contact 22 carried by a contact member 23. The contact member 23 is secured by a flat spring 2 1 to the post 25 on platform 4, and the spring 24; normally holds the contact member 23 against a stop 26 to separate the contacts 20 and 22. The contact 22 is supported by a cushioning spring 27, so that when the contact member 23 is moved to an extreme position, the contacts will be maintained together for the necessary length of time. The free end of the member 23 is provided with a weight 28 which facilitates the desired movement, and a cushioning spring 29 is provided on the member to be engaged by an operating member 30 although of course this spring 29 may be omitted it de sired. I use the spring 29, however, to reduce noise, and to cushion the blows.

My improved contact operating member 30 constitutes a hammer which is connected by :1 lat spring 31 with a post 32 on platform 1, and said operating member 30 when at rest and in normal position is spaced slightly from the member as shown clearly in Fig. 1. A cam 33 on member 30 is engaged by the cams and caused to move in one direction as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, storing up energy in the spring 31, which latter when cam 33 is released, forces the contact member to aid its normal position, and imparts a blow to the member 23. The energy or momentum stored in member 30 is then imparted to member 93 which moves a distance sutlicient to close the contacts 20 and 22 as shown in Fig. 3, and then returns to its normal position shown in Fig. 1.

It will be noted that I provide no stop for limiting the movement of member 30 in either direction, but rely solely on the elas tic or flexible connection 31 to hold the member and limit its movement. When the member 30 strikes member 23, it does not follow the member 23, but transfers its energy to the member hence there is practically no vibration to the member 30 after it has imparted its blow to member The weighted member 23 moves in a uniform path, at a uniform speed, a uni. :lorm distance, at every blow of the operating member 30, and the contacts remain closed for a uniform length of time, and then cleanly separate without any vibration, so that a single spark of uniform length is provided regardless of the speed of the engine. If the time shaft is turned in av direction reverse to normal, the end of one cam 13 will bear against the end of cam stopping the rotary cam 7, and while the rotary cam is held in this position, the cam surfaces 19 on the lower face thereof will cause the pin Lt to move downwardly, and allow the time shaft to turn independei'itly of the rotary cam member. The pin 1% therefore operates as a ratchet pin which causes the time shaft and rotary cam to turn together in one direction, but permits the time shaft to turn independently in the opposite direction.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my in vention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly tall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a contact device, the combination of a support, a flexible member rigidly secured at one end to said support, the opposite end of which is adapted to swing in two directions, the normal position assumed by said member being under no tension, and a second movable member carrying a coir tact adapted to be moved into contact with a stationary contact by the first-mentioned member, substantially as described.

In a contact device, the combination of a flexible member, one end of said member being rigidly secured to a stationary support and having its free end adapted to swing in two opposite directions, a second flexible member mounted in the path of the first-mentioned member and adapted to be struck and moved by the first-mentioned member to cause contacts to touch, substantially as described.

3. In a contact device, the combination with a support, of a flexible member on the support freely movable in two directions beyond its normal position, and an independently mounted contact closing member on said support movable by the blows ot the first-mentioned member, substantially as described.

l-. In a contact device, the combination with a support, of a flexible member on the support freely movable in two directions beyond its normal position, an independently mounted contact closing member on said support movable by the blows of the first-mentioned member, and means for moving the first-mentioned member in one direction to store up energy in said member which energy is used in a blow against the contact member, substantially as described.

The combination with a. support, a swinging contact member 011 the support, an operating member, a spring forming a support for and connecting the operating member with said first support and holding the member in normal position, means for moving the operating member in one direc tion to store up energy in the spring, and said operating member adapted when released from said means to move past its normal position and impart a blow to the contact member to cause the latter to move the contacts together, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a support, a swinging contact member on the support, an operating member, a spring forming the sole support for the member, said spring fas Cir

connecting the operating member with the support and holding the member in normal position, a rotary member having a series of cams thereon, a cam on the operating member engaged by said cams to move said operating member in one direction and store up energy in the spring, said spring adapted when released by the cam to move the operating member past its normal position and impart a blow to the contact holding member, causing the latter to move the contacts together, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a support, a stationary contact on the support, and a contact member on the support having a contact thereon adapted to engage the stationary contact but normally spaced therefrom, of an operating member, a spring forming the sole support for and connecting one end of the operating member with the support, but permitting the operating member to move in both directions beyond its normal position, the free end of said operating member adapted to impart a blow to the contact member when said operating member is moved beyond its normal position in one direction, and means for moving the operating member in the opposite direction to store up energy in the spring, whereby it is caused when released to move beyond its normal position in the opposite direction to strike the contact member, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a support, a stationary contact on the support, and a contact member on the support having a contact thereon adapted to engage the stationary contact but normally spaced therefrom, of an operating member, a spring forming the sole support for and connecting one end of the operating member with the support but permitting the operating member to move in both directions beyond its normal position, the free end of said operating mem ber adapted to impart a blow to the contact member when said opera-ting member is moved beyond its normal position in one direction, a cam on the operating member, and a rotary series of cams adapted to engage the first-mentioned cam to move the operating member in a direction to store up energy in the spring, whereby when released the operating member is caused to move by its spring beyond its normal position to strike the contact member and close the contacts, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a support, a stabut permitting the operating member to move in both directions beyond its normal position, the free end of said operating member adapted to impart a blow to the contact member when said operating mem ber is moved beyond its normal position in one direction, and means for moving the operating member in the opposite direction to store up energy in the spring, whereby it is caused when released to move beyond its normal position in the opposite direction to strike the contact member, substan tially as described.

10. The combination with a support, a stationary contact on the support, a contact member on the support having a contact thereon, a stop on the support, and elastic means normally holding the contact member against the stop with the contacts apart, of an operating member, a spring forming the solesupport for and connecting one end of the operating member with the support, but permitting the operating member to move in both directions beyond its normal position, the free end of said operating member adapted to impart a blow to the contact member when said operating member is moved beyond its normal position in one direction, a cam on the operating member. and a rotary series of cams adapted to engage the firstmentioned cam and move the operating member in a direction to store up energy in the spring, whereby when released the oper ating member is caused to move by its spring beyond its normal position to strike the con tact member and close the contacts, substanti ally as described.

11. The combination with a support, of atime shaft in the support, a rotary cam member on the shaft having a series of cams thereon, each of said cams having a pin deflecting surface, and a ratchet pin engaging the cam member and compelling the same to turn with the shaft in one direction, said cam surfaces serving to actuate said pin upon. movement of said shaft in an opposite direction, of a movable contact member on the support, an operating member on the support normally spaced from the contact member and movable in two directions be yond its normal position, and said rotary cam member adapted to engage the operating member and cause it to move in one direction, and a spring causing said operating member to move in the opposite direction beyond its normal position to impart a blow to the contact member, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a support, of a. time shaft in the support, a rotary cam member on the shaft having a series of cams thereon, each of said cams having a pindeflecting surface, and a ratchet pin engaging the cam member and compelling the same to turn with the shaft in one direction,

said cam surfaces serving to actuate said pin upon nmvemcnt of said shaft in an opposite direction, of a movable contact member on the support, an operating member on the support normally spaced trom the contact member and movalne in two directions beyond its normal position, and said rotary cam membe' adapted to engage the operating member and cause it to move in one direction, a spring causing said operating member to move in the opposite direction beyond its normal position to impart a blow to the contact member, said contact member having a spring thereon against which the operating member strikes, substantially as described.

3. The combinatimi with a support, of a time shaft in the support, a rotary cam member on the shatt, and a ratchet pin engaging the cam member and compelling the same to turn with the shaft in one direction, said cam member having a series of cams thereon, each of said cams having a pind *llecting surface, of a movable contact member on the support, said cam suril aces serving to actuate said pin upon movei'nent of said shaft in an opposite direction. an operating member on the support normally spaced from the contact member and movable in two directions beyond its normal position, and said rotary cam mem ber adapted to engage the operating member and cause it to move in one direction, a spring causing said operating member to move in the opposite direction beyond its normal position to impart a blow to the contact member, a spring supporting the contact member, a stop limiting the movement of the contact member in one direction, and a spring on the contact member engaged by the operating memb r, substantially as described.

ll. In a contact device, the combination with a movable member having a flexible end portion, one part of said llexible end portion being rigidly connected to a stationary support, said member having a cam surface thereon, a. rotary cam mem er :mapted to move said first-mentioned member away from its normal posit-ion to cause tension to be brought on the flexible section which when released. will cause the member to move past its normal position, a second contact member struck by the first-mentioned member in said last-mentioned movement, and electric contacts caused to close by the movement of the last-mentioned member, and caused to separate by the re turn movement of the last-mentioned mem ber to normal position, substantially as described.

15. In a contact device. the combination with a support, of a. flexible member rigidly mounted on the support and freely mova le in two directions beyond its normal position, and a contact closing member movable by the blows of the lirst-memtb)ncd member, said contact closing member having a weight at its free end, substantially as described.

16. In a contact device. the combination with a SHPPOI't, of a flexible member rigidly mounted on the support and freely movable in two directions beyond its normal position, a contact closing member movable by the blows ot the lirst-mentioned member, springs connecting both of said members with the support, and a weight on the tree end of the contact closing member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEYVIS T. RHOADES.

'itnesses Mrs. E. G. DEXNHK, Man I rrzonna i .1).

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C." 

